Mounting arrangement for miniature electrical motor



Oct 27, 1970 G. A. BARLOW 3,536,280

MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR MINIATURE ELECTRICAL MOTOR Filed Aug. 19, 1968 INVENTOR ammo/v AJaAmow IWMLM/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,536,280 MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR MINIATURE ELECTRICAL MOTOR Gordon A. Barlow, Evanston, Ill., assignor to Marvin Glass & Associates, a partnership Filed Aug. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 753,423 Int. Cl. F16m 1/00 US. Cl. 248-13 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mounting arrangement for a miniature electric motor for use in a toy, characterized by a sleeve element of a size and shape to closely embrace the exterior of the motor, the sleeve having radially outwardly extending first locking members, and upwardly extending second locking members connected to the frame of the toy and spaced generally in an array to register with the locking members on the sleeve to telescopically receive the sleeve locking members in assembled relationship therewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to a mounting arrangement for miniature electric motors such as those used in toys, and the like, to drive moving components.

Description of the prior art In recent years, there has been a proliferation of toys having moving parts driven by extremely small or miniature electrical motors. Such toys might include phonograph mechanisms wherein it is desirable to have a relatively good quality sound reproduction free from distortion or noise which might be produced by vibration of the toy frame, or related structure.

A major factor in toy construction is the cost of toy assembly. It is, of course, highly desirable to be able to manufacture toys for sale at a relatively low price so that they may be made available to a broad spectrum of the public. While the toys are only useful for a limited time span during the life of a child, it is further desirable that the function performed by the toy, be of substantially high quality in order to provide the maximum enjoyment and use of the toy during the limited time span of its attractiveness to a child.

In an etfort to keep production costs low, frequently the small electric motors used to drive components of toys are mounted to the frame of the toy by a simple straplike arrangement. This may occasion small scale, but significant vibrations in the frame of the toy. Since most toys are made of a substantial amount of generally rigid plastic framework and/or casing, even a small vibration established by the small motors can become bothersome, especially in the case of those toys which perform the function of reproducing sound from a recording. Such distortion and noise caused by the vibration of these small motors, may become annoying or at least make it diificult to clearly hear the recorded message.

Thus, it has become desirable to provide a mounting arrangement for such minute electric motors as used in toys, games, or the like, which will substantially eliminate the transmission of vibration to the frame of the toy while being economical to produce and simple to assemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to an improved mounting arrangement for mounting electric motors of minute size to the frame of a toy, game, or the like. The mounting arrangement includes a sleeve-like member of a size and shape to receive an electric motor in the interior thereof 3,536,280 Patented Oct. 27, 1970 P CC with the sleeve member having radially outwardly extending locking members in the form of axially elongate ears connected to the sleeve by a reduced neck portion. Socket means in the form of hollow upstanding posts are connected to the frame of the toy, the sockets having an interior of a size and shape to matingly receive the ears of the sleeve member and further being slotted to receive the reduced neck portion of the sleeve members, whereby the three components of motor, sleeve, and socket may be assembled by first inserting the motor into the sleeve and next inserting the sleeve ears into the sockets on the frame to thereby secure the motor relative to the frame but in spaced relationship therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sleeve component of the mounting arrangement of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the sleeve component shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken generally along the lines 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded view, showing in disassembled relationship, a miniature electric motor of the type used with toys or games, the sleeve component of the mounting arrangement of this invention, and the socket component of the mounting arrangement of this invention mounted on a frame of a toy.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplifieation of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The mounting arrangement 10 of this invention is intended for use in mounting an electric motor 12 to the frame 14 of a toy of the type having moving components, driven by the rotating drive shaft 16 of motor 12. Frame 14- may be provided with an opening 18 through which the drive shaft 16 may extend for connection with moving components of the toy. Typically, such toys as may be driven by motors 12 include those which have one or more recorded messages which are intended to be reproduced through suitable speaker means responsive to an appropriate actuation of a portion of the toy or game.

The mounting arrangement 10 of this invention includes a first or sleeve member 20 shown as having a generally hollow circular cylindrical configuration. The interior 21 of the sleeve may be of any size and shape so long as it substantially conforms to the size and shape of the exterior of the motor 12 to snugly, nestably receive the motor 12 therein. Preferably, the member 20 is made of a plastic material which may be slightly deformed, if necessary, in the process of telescopic assembly of motor 12 therein, to hold the motor in a force-fit assembled relationship therewith. To this. end, the sleeve is provided with an open top 22 through which the motor may be inserted. The bottom of the sleeve is provided with an inwardly directed flange 24 and a reduced opening 26. The flange serves as a means for limiting the axial insertion of motor 12 within sleeve 20.

The member 20 is further provided with first mounting means or radially outstanding axially elongate ears 30, 32 and 34. These ears are generally circular cylindrical in configuration in the illustrated embodiment and connected to the sleeve 20 by reduced neck portions 30a, 32a and 34a, respectively. Connected to base 14 are the second mounting means or mounting tubes 36, 38 and 40. In the illustrated embodiment, tubes 36, 38 and 40 are generally hollow circular cylindrical structures having open interiors 36a, 38a and 40a, respectively, generally of a size and shape to closely or snugly embrace the ears 30, 32 and 34, respectively. Tubes 36, 38 and 40 are further provided with vertically elongate slots 36b, 38b and 4015, respectively, which open to the top of the several tubes and terminate short of frame 14. The hollow interiors 36a, 38a and 400:, as well as the slots 36b, 38b and 40b serve as a socket means for telescopically and nestably receiving the first mounting means or outstanding ears .30, 32 and 34, and reduced necks 30a, 32a and 34a, respectively, of the sleeve member when the sleeve is assembled axially relative to the tubes. The tubes are disposed about the opening 18 in an array or arrangement generally in registration with the spacing between the several ears of the sleeve to facilitate such assembly. The sleeve 20 and motor 12 therein are held spaced from frame 14 by the abutment of necks 30b, 32b and 34b, with the bottom of notches 36b, 38b and 40b, respectively.

While the several tubes 36, 3'8 and 40 have been shown as separate elements, it is to be understood that they could be formed as a single unit and linked together by suitable interconnecting structure. As shown herein, the tubes may be fastened to the frame 14 by use of adhesive means or fastening means, or they may be integrally formed as a part of the frame 14.

The mounting arrangement of this invention provides a means by which the electric motor 12 may be easily and quickly assembled relative to frame 14. Assembly is accomplished by merely axially inserting the motor 12 into the interior of sleeve 20' and subsequently axially thrusting the sleeve 20 towards the posts 36, 38 and 40 so that the ears and necks of the sleeve are received within the interior and slots of the posts. By this means, the motor is held remote from the frame in a slightly yieldable and vibration absorbent structure, thereby substantially eliminating the transmittal of any motor vibration directly to the frame 14, such as might cause bothersome noise or distortion in other components of the toy.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. For use in a toy or the like having a frame and moving parts driven by a miniature electric motor, a mounting arrangement for said miniature electric motor, comprising: a first sleeve-like member having an open interior for receiving said motor in mating relationship therewith, said sleeve-like member having first outwardly extending locking means thereon including enlarged portions connected to the sleeve by reduced portions; second tube-like members secured on said frame in spaced array generally in registration with said sleeve locking means, said tube-like members having socket means therein including a hollow interior of a size and shape to telescopically receive the enlarged portions of said sleeve locking means in assembled relationship therewith and secure the motor relative to the frame and said socket means including a slot in the wall thereof to receive said reduced portions of said locking means.

2. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the slots in said tubes terminate at a point spaced above the frame to hold the motor spaced therefrom.

3. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the sleeve-like member has an inwardly directed flange at one end of the interior for limiting the insertion of the motor relative to the sleeve.

4. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the enlarged portions of the sleeve locking means are generally cylindrical in configuration and wherein the hollow interiors of the tube members generally mate therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,094,589 4/1914 Poland 24820 X 3,127,092 3/1964 Shenberger 248--15 X ROY D. FRAZI ER, Primary Examiner J. FRANKLIN FOSS, Assistant Examiner 

